Buenos Aires Warnings Or Dangers

a couple approach you. "Probre sito" and indicate that you have gunk squirted on your trousers on your wallet side. The woman pulls out a tissue and starts to clean your trousers, in my case sheperding me into a bus shelter. She then moves around your back while the guy continues to clean your trousers. The woman at ths stage has pulled out a bottle of water to help clean you up - but then she spills some water on your shirt at the same point that the guy is kneeling down beside your pocket. While you are reacting to the spilt water on your shirt, the guy has your wallet out of your pocket without you feeling a thing!

Fortunately I saw my wallet at that point, recovered it, said thank you and walked off.
I suspect their technique is not to be violent, but I suspect that if I had not seen my wallet in that split second, I doubt that I would have seen it again!

Take care! Especially in streets with few people.

Argentina is probably one of the safer countries, probably safer than the U.S. Of course in larger cities there's always people that want to take advantage of tourist such as pick pockets, lousy cab drivers and such. The people are friendly and helpful. Just about nobody speaks english, so it would help to learn some spanish phrases to get you by. Hotel staff and restaurant staff is most likely to speak english, but don't count on it. I never met a cabbie in Argentina that spoke any english.

My daughter has been there in various cities for a few weeks. She did a travel website, travelingcheapwithcharlie.com and her focus is the single young woman traveling abroad.

Also, my cousin's kid, same age, mid-twenties has been to just about every corner of Argentina and has taken public transportation, busses and has felt safe there and has gone back.

Beware and be prepared for the "reciprocity fee" upon entering Buenos Aires by air from outside the country (at EZE) if you're from the US, Canada, Britain or Australia. After 9/11, when governments from the countries above greatly tightened airport and air security, their demands cost the Argentine government a good number of pesos to meet standard. Soooooooo "in return", the Argentinian government charges citizens of the countries above a "reciprocity fee" when they arrive in Argentina at EZE international airport from abroad.... anywhere abroad.

Now, they only charge this fee once, and after that - you will have a sticker in your passport that is good for multiple re-entries into Argentina through EZE for the next ten years. But on that first pass into the country, Americans, Brits, Australians and Canadians get popped for about US$140 each. The reciprocity fee. It's the Argentine government recouping as much of the expense thrust upon them by the US, UK, Canadian and Australian governments as they can, FROM only the citizens of those countries.

PS and FWIW, Argentine airports are generally pretty well run. But it's my opinion - and only my opinion - that they're not QUITE doing as much on the security front as the American government thinks that they are. That "second" canvassing we went through before boarding our return flight was basically a bunch of gate agents and ticket agents just asking questions and fiddling around with carryon baggage. They were nice and quite helpful - almost apologetic, but.... I honestly don't think they've had much training in profiling suspicious individuals trying to board the plane. But, just MHO.

On the plus side, it does encourage us to do something that we really think we'd like anyway, ie visit Argentina again, just to get our money's worth on those reciprocity stamps.

Hi!
You won`t be targeted as a tourist because there are many Chinese people who were borned or have lived in Argentina for many years. So, probably people won`t think that you are a tourist (at least if you have the typical camara, map, etc,).
As to Spanish lessons, I can reccommend you the Spanish school I attended: Verbum school: My teachers were very good, the staff helpful and is located in a safe and central area of the city.

I'm a college student studying in Capital Federal. Met a guy a liked a lot. We met in a cafe in the morning. He helped me with my Spanish. We met at the cafe for several mornings in a row. I started calling him my boyfriend.

After the third meeting we decided to go out that evening. The plan was to met that evening at the same cafe and decide where to go.

I'm used to deciding where we go. American guys usually defer to the girl. During the day I asked my friends where a cool place to go would be in Recoleta. The general consensus was a pub/bar named Shoeless Joe's El Alamo. I had heard of it but never gone there.

That evening I was ready with my suggestion. What I didn't know was that in Argentinean culture the guy decides everything. No input from me.

Ok, I can live with that. Much to my surprise he took me to Shoeless Joe's El Alamo - the same place I had in mind.

So far so good. The place is OK. Occupies en entire Beautiful old building. Packed with a younger upscale crowd. For some reason they just kept bringing me drinks. I was a little worried that my boyfriend would be stuck with a huge bill. He told me not to worry abou it.

Went to the bathroom. When I returned my boyfriend was in an animated, serious conversation with another girl. It turns out they were a couple until a few weeks ago. In front of my eyes they made up and I was sort of like the third wheel.

Well, I thought, I show him up. Usually I can attract guys like ants on honey. Looked around.
Didn't look good. Lots and lots of really hot girls in El Alamo. Started giving one guy the eye. He joined us. Soon after my ex-boyfriend left with his girlfriend and I was left alone with my new friend.

Sounds OK but really it isn't. I liked my ex-boyfriend a lot. Wish I was still with him.

My advice is, don't take your boyfriend to Shoeless Joe's El Alamo. There are way to many hot chicks there and you might end up like me - out in the cold.

Petty crime including pick pocketing is a big issue in Buenos Aires. It's rife especially on the crowded metro (subte), at the ominous station and in large gatherings in tourist areas.

There is no need to be paranoid providing you take the necessary precautions. The best prevention method is hiding your money and important documents and ensure these are out of sight. Using a money belt and putting this inside you is recommendable and only take what you need for the day when you explore the city. It is best not using a rucksack as you would stand out more as a target and, as for the ladies, a casual cotton bag is better for storing non valuable items. Avoid wearing jewellery including watches whilst out on the streets and take extra care of mobile phones and cameras.

It is very important to be vigilent and also to be aware and confident of your surroundings when travelling in the city as thieves can use distracting techniques tor relieving and stealing your possessions (One common distaction technique is when thieves splatter suncream onto you and your bags in a busy area. One of them tries to "help" you clean up while his or her partner steals your possessions). Whilst in public spaces, keep you bags and possessions with you at all times and don't place them on the floor and avoid hanging them on chairs. If you have to take valuables, especially laptops, these are best kept in your accommodation's safe.

On my arrival in Buenos Aires (in January 2010), I was advised by locals where I should not travel to on my own. They advised me the following locations:

La Boca (Except Calle Caminito and the street up to the football stadium): Unfortunately, muggings are a fairly common occurance to outsiders in and it is strongly advised to take a round trip via taxi or the bus.
The immediate area around Constitucion Subway and Railway Station.
The immediate area around Once Subway and Railway Station (and Avenida Corrientes running through that area - updated in February 2011).
The immediate area around Retiro Onimous Station, Subway, The Railway Station and the Barrio itself. The barrio is a poor area especially the Shanty town by the autopista (For catching buses, it's strongly advised to travel to the Onimous Station by taxi and also when arriving also get an official Remise or radio taxi from the station to the city centre).

At night times, it's advisable to be in groups; keep to the busy streets (but take care of your belongings) and use radio taxis.

If you're travelling on your own and want to experience the nightlife, it's best securing accommodation in the downtown or the upmarket (Northern Barrios) areas.

My elderly parents just got back from 3 weeks in South America (a cruise from Buenos Aires, and further south). One story that they told us was very interesting. My Dad went for a walk across the street from the Buenos Aires, Sheraton Hotel, to a park. He was approached by a couple who asked him to take their picture with their camera. He speaks Spanish and talked with them for a few minutes. When he took the picture, the so called camera squirted some type of sticky substance out of it, and onto his pants (thank goodness not into his face and eyes). He said that there was no "click" of the shutter, however, there was some type of a "pumping action" instead. He takes pictures all of the time, and is very aware of cameras and their workings. He may have known something was up, as he held the camera away from his face. The couple tried to assist him with the "clean up", however, he refused their services and wondered back to the hotel. He is not quite sure what was in the device, but was happy that he hadn't been pick pocketed or mugged, etc.

Please be aware of this situation / SCAM.

Edmonton, Alberta, CANADA